Tale 1: War of the Protector

Branches whipped my face, and creeper vines snatched at my ankles. We wouldn’t stop. We practically crashed through the trees – trees that, at any moment, could come alive with the power of the Jonquil, and snatch us up off the ground. She was, in fact, part of the seven chasing after us at that moment.

Rain started pouring from the sky. It was so heavy I could barely see anything in front of me.

Then the ground started ripping itself up in front of us. It was from the Larkspur, Birth-Flower of July, and Protector of land. The ground was quickly turning into mud. Cody and I still pressed on.

Then the gunfire started.

Pain exploded from my calf. I screamed and grabbed Cody’s arm. He held onto me and looked around.

“Stay here,” Cody said, pointing to a log.

“But… but…” I held tighter to his arm. “You can’t leave me here alone!”

“Stay here,” he said. His voice was low, and his hazel eyes burned into mine. The intensity turned them gold. “I’ll be right back.”